deercountry | [open] Wuko Wedding

Who: Mako, Wu, and you!
What: GETTING MARRIED
When: February 20th
Where: The beach, through the city, at the Raccoon Room in Cellar Door.

Content Warnings: An inordinate amount of fluff, potentially event happenings.

The Wedding

It's not a normal wedding. There's no officiant, they're not standing up in front of a bunch of people to declare their love: this is a Trench wedding, based on Mako and Wu's shared traditions, inventing some new ones.

The ceremony itself is a procession, from the beach to the Raccoon Room. It starts with just the two of them, at a flower arch on the beach, their hands clasped together, each in a gold suit with red and green accents on the collar and as piping down the front. They walk together along a flower strewn path, talking quietly with one another, sharing small, nervous smiles.

If you are close to the couple, you recieved a red envelope, delivered either by raccoon or small dragon, a few days before the wedding, inviting you to the ceremony. The small crowd gathers outside the Raccoon Room, where the threshold is decked out in red roses. The couple stands in the doorway, saying their vows, and pressing a blood-and-ash covered hand to the other's cheek.

While the ceremony is private, the reception isn't. Invites have gone out to basically the entire city, via Wu's post, so it's a pretty public event. Maybe you're coming because you saw that post. Maybe you're coming because you're involved somehow, maybe you just see a flower-and-light-filled party and decide to drop in. Everyone is welcome. After all, this is Trench, and everyone could be dead tomorrow, so why not celebrate something good while you have the chance? Come in, dance to music from different worlds, eat cake and noodles and dumplings, celebrate a little moment of happiness while you can. The party's going all night, and the couple making their solemn, slightly-bloody vows to each other are only the excuse for it.

The Party

Naturally, since this is Mako and Wu's wedding, it's at the Raccoon Room, decked out even more grandly than it was for its opening. Roses adorn every surface and drop from the ceiling in strings, perfuming the air. Scattered between them are red-and-gold lanterns, casting a dim, inviting light onto velvet hangings. Lining the walls are tables full of food and drinks. Everyone can't fit into this little venue, so Wu has also set up a draping tent outside, full of burning braziers of coal to keep the chill away. The doors are wide open to let the music from inside out: it's just the party, continued! Renfri can be found behind the bar, dishing up custom drinks.

The Music

Chicken Choice Judy, or Ryan Akagi and Min-Gi Park, make their Trench debut on the stage of the Raccoon Room, playing an eclectic mix of original music, 80s hits, current pop, and classical piano music. They begin with a slowed-down version of Lil Nas X's Montero, ease into an upbeat version of That's What I Want, and things take off from there. Maybe give them requests? They might play some of your favorite dance songs! This is a party for everyone, after all. A big space in front of the stage has been cleared for dancing, and the music will be going all night.

The Couple

After the more private ceremony (with only close friends and loved ones, for Mako's peace of mind) Mako and Wu are as available as any couple at their wedding, which is to say, not terribly. With new dark handprints from the ceremony on their faces—really, more on their necks, because Wu wouldn't stand for a giant handprint ruining his look—they can be found chatting with friends, huddled together whispering, or dancing together. They'll try to mingle as much as they can, but they're in pretty high demand tonight!

((ooc: Make top-levels to your hearts' content, mingle, have a good time! This is a Trench party and it's open to everyone! Wuko image credit)) © tessisamess

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[he grimaces.]

S-sorry, I was in the zone, I guess... [here, take the plate back. on the house.]

Mh? Oh, yeah. But I figure...it'll be less to worry about later, right? They should be having fun, not worrying about cleanup. [he shrugs.]

That's one way to describe it.

[Thanks for the plate, he's going to treasure it for exactly as long a sit takes to put food on it and eat the food.]

I mean...yeah, but that can wait 'til the party's over, right? We can all pitch in then. Pretty sure they'd want you to be having fun.

[quickly, almost cutting Varian off there:] It's fine! Really, it's fine! [he smiles weakly before starting to bustle off to drop what he already has in his arms to the kitchen, trailing off with:] I don't mind at all!

[Magnet lingers at Varian's feet, whining, ears drooping.]

[Varian leans down to pet Magnet between the ears, exhales slowly, then follows.]

See- you say it's fine. [He slides into the kitchen behind Manabu.] But you're kinds acting in a...not-fine way? Just. An observation. Did something happen?

Just a little, uh, under the weather, maybe? [Manabu drops off the plate stack and wipes his hands on his trousers, turning partway to shrug in Varian's direction.] I dunno, there's always something messing with us, right?

But I haven't run into any new creatures or anything, so... [so it's fine. it means it's something he can handle. or has to, even if he can't, because he cannot mess up right now; he's not important here.

no matter how biting the bitterness brewing inside may become.]

...Yeah, I guess so. There's always something.

[He doesn't like this any, though. Something is clearly bothering Manabu - he's not right at all.]

Well, sometimes there's things here worse than creatures to deal with. And- and it's better to try and deal with them before they become a real problem and you become the creature. What are your symptoms? Maybe we can...figure something out.

[his eyes wince at that. Varian's definitely speaking from experience...and it's not like Manabu's clean from those kinds of experiences himself! it slows him, keeps him from immediately bustling out of the kitchen.

he sighs, rubbing at the side of his face.]

Right... [the last thing that needs to happen is him going feral in the middle of a wedding!

maybe he shouldn't have come at all. that would've been awful, though! his best friends...]

I don't know, Varian. I just don't feel right. I've never been good with parties or...fun things. Not when I know there's something I should be doing besides. [he smiles grimly.] I haven't really...cut loose or been okay with that since I was your age. Before I got enlisted.

[priorities shift. goals become clearer. responsibilities, endless.]

[He catches the change in Manabu's demeanour and feels a small pang of guilt. He knows it's important, though. Stopping and taking stock of just how bad things are before they get worse. So he listens, quietly, attentively, his arms folded loosely. ]

I know what you mean about the whole...not being great at parties thing. Honestly, if this hadn't been for Wu and Mako I probably would have avoided it.

[But that's not what's important here. He feels there's more to this than just a party, but he'll just...ease towards that. ]

Well, you can hang in the background. I'm pretty sure no one is expecting you to be in the spotlight. You can come lean against a wall with me and people watch if it's easier- you won't have to do anything.

[Manabu flashes him a grimacing kind of smile, shaking his head as his focus moves back toward the main hall and all the people therein.]

No, I...I gotta do whatever'll...make them happiest. I owe it to them. And if I can't even do that, then what kind of friend am I, huh?

[a pretty crappy, fair-weather one, he thinks! and he doesn't want to be that. at all. the very suggestion makes him feel briefly too warm in his own skin before the chill returns and makes him shiver, exhaling a vapor that lingers a bit after-the-fact.] Especially after...all they've done for me.

[...]

But if I am gonna mess things up, then...leaving's better than making that mess. [he nods.] For sure.

[he glances back at Varian.]

So if you think I'm not up for it, then I...I better get a second opinion, huh.

...I'm pretty sure you're a friend they think a lot of and wouldn't want you to run yourself ragged over some...perceived debt to them. Neither of them are like that, c'mon, you know that, right?

[Do NOT make him tattle to them, Manabu, hell do it!!!]

You won't be making a mess just by...hanging out. It's what they'd expect you to do. But we can go ask them if you like? They'd be the best second opinion, right?

[he waves his hands quickly to dismiss the idea.] N-no, no! No, let them spend their time the way they want, okay? I'll behave myself!

[he rubs at the back of his head before resting the heel of his palm on the side of his neck. is his heart really pounding that much?!

he blinks down at Magnet, noticing him pawing at his pantleg. he sighs, silent a beat before squatting down to pick the dog up, hesitating while Magnet wriggles around.

once he's stood up, he nods over to Varian:] I'll step out for a bit. Clear my head. I'll be back in a few minutes, okay? [probably.]

[Varian's casting him a concerned look, not convinced in the least. ]

...I don't know. You really don't look good, Manabu. You look like you need more than just a breather.

[as Magnet whines, Manabu offers Varian a wincing smile.]

Aa, mm...Then...if I'm really not doing too great, I'll just go home. Avoid causing any trouble for the party.

[that said, he starts toward the exit while raising his voice to be heard:] If they ask, I went out for some air!

[Varian is so very sus right now, Manabu. ]

Okay. if you're sure...

[Then quickly, calling after him:]

I'm gonna check in on you later!

[That can be taken as an act of a concerned friend or a legitimate threat- both are equally valid.]

[threat or not, he'll see Manabu back eventually, dragged onto a dance floor with Wu for a minute or two before booking it yet again, clearly not doing any better having shoved his head in a snowbank or whatever.

look, he tried! and he left, just as he promised he would. no harm done.]

[HE'S WATCHING YOU, BUCKO!!

He's definitely gonna check up on him later!!!]

[open] Wuko Wedding

The Wedding

The Party

The Music

The Couple

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